New York Jets nominated for Professional Sports Team of the Year Award

On May 18, SportsBusiness Daily and SportsBusiness Journal will host the fourth annual Sports Business Awards in the Broadway Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis in New York City.

The 2011 Awards will recognize excellence and outstanding achievement in the business of sports from January 1, 2010 through February 28, 2011.

Nominees from 15 different categories were carefully studied over the past several weeks by the selection committee and the winners will be announced at the live awards ceremony in a little less than two months.

Launched in 2008, the Sports Business Awards were established by SportsBusiness Daily and SportsBusiness Journal to celebrate and recognize the leaders, visionaries and day-to-day practitioners who personify excellence in the business of sports.

The inaugural event took place at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City. This year marks the third consecutive year that the Marriott Marquis will be home to the Sports Business Awards.

For the second consecutive year, the Big Apple will have horses in the race for the Sports Facility of the Year Award as the New Meadowlands Stadium, home to the New York Giants and the New York Jets, and Red Bull Arena, home to Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls, have been nominated for the honor.

Last year, Citi Field and Yankee Stadium were nominated for the award, but were topped by the $1 billion Cowboys Stadium.

Speaking of the Jets, Gang Green, who went to their second consecutive AFC Championship Game this past season, have the opportunity to lay claim to the Professional Sports Team of the Year Award, which, if it hasn’t already, should give head coach Rex Ryan plenty to bark about during the lockout.

This year’s Sports Business Awards nominees include:

Professional Sports Team of the Year

Ganassi Racing

New York Jets

Orlando Magic

Pittsburgh Penguins

San Francisco Giants



Professional Sports League of the Year

Major League Soccer

National Basketball Association

National Football League

National Hockey League

Ultimate Fighting Championship



Sports Event of the Year

ING New York City Marathon – 2010

NBA All-Star Game – 2011

NCAA Final Four – 2010

Winter X Games – 2011



Sports Executive of the Year

George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN/ABC Sports

Chip Ganassi, Owner, Ganassi Racing

David Levy, President of Sales, Distribution and Sports, Turner Broadcasting System

Kevin Plank, Chair, CEO, Under Armour

Pat Riley, President, Miami Heat



Athletic Director of the Year

Bob Bowlsby, Stanford University

Tim Curley, Penn State University

Chris Del Conte, Texas Christian University

DeLoss Dodds, University of Texas

Chris Hill, University of Utah



Best in Sports Media

CBS Sports

ESPN

Fox Sports

National Football League

Turner Sports



Best in Sports Television

ESPN Networks

Fox Sports

HBO Sports

NBC Sports

Turner Sports



Best in Digital Sports Media

CBS Interactive Media

ESPN Digital Media

MLB Advanced Media

Turner Sports



Best in Talent Representation and Management

Boras Corporation

CAA Sports

IMG

Octagon

Wasserman Media Group



Best in Corporate Consulting, Marketing and Client Services

GMR Marketing

GroupM ESP

IMG

Octagon

Team Epic

Wasserman Media Group



Best in Property Consulting, Sales and Client Services

AEG Global Partnerships

CAA Sports

Home Team Marketing

IMG



Best in Sports Event and Experiential Marketing

BaAM Productions

BeCore Promotions

Intersport

The Marketing Arm

Momentum Worldwide

SportsMark



Sports Sponsor of the Year

Papa John’s

Phillips-Van Heusen

Subway

T-Mobile USA



Sports Facility of the Year

Amway Center

Arrowhead Stadium

Consol Energy Center

New Meadowlands Stadium

Red Bull Arena

Target Field



Best in Sports Technology

Daktronics

Fanvibe

IOMEDIA

MLB Advanced Media


Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

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Top Five Lessons New York Jets Should Have Learned This Season

As the sting from a loss in their second consecutive AFC Championship Game gradually subsides, the New York Jets can look back on the 2010-11 season with a mixture of hope, pride and shame.

Thus, similarly to the proverbial game of life, Gang Green, individually and collectively, can glean a myriad of lessons from the occasions where they failed and succeeded, both as players and as men.

So, the offseason presents a prime opportunity for the Jets to reflect and mature, to become better, not bitter, for the euphoric highs and wretched lows that are part and parcel of a grueling 16-game National Football League schedule.

Therefore, it is imperative that the Jets carefully and introspectively look back on a season that could have easily been lost due to self-inflicted wounds, and move forward with renewed perspective on what it truly means to be a winner.

5. Talk is cheap

From their appearance on HBO’s reality documentary series Hard Knocks to cornerback Antonio Cromartie questioning the manhood of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward prior to the AFC Championship Game, the Jets weren’t bashful about speaking their minds.

And with the addition of established stars in Cromartie, LaDainian Tomlinson, Santonio Holmes and Jason Taylor via free agency and trades last year, it was clear the Jets were assembling a team built to win the Super Bowl this season, an observation made known by the team to any and all who would listen.

“Honestly, we’re here for our Super Bowl. If we don’t get there, nothing else matters.” – Kris Jenkins

“Don’t be timid about saying it. That’s your goal. Write it down. Say it. Read it. Talk about it. It’s fine. It’s not false bravado. It’s real, and that’s what we want. I think we have the players to do it.” – Mark Sanchez

“Anything short of the obvious is a disappointment. At the end of the day, to beat the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship or to beat the Saints or Vikings, we have to put it all together. It’s not enough just to have the manpower on paper.” – Braylon Edwards

“This is definitely different than any other year I’ve been in. It’s a true sense of Super Bowl or bust. This team is built for that. It’s been talked about over and over again. Guys understand that.” – Brandon Moore

Ultimately though, for all their braggadocio, the Jets would fall short of punching a ticket to Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium, proving once again that Gang Green’s bark was worse than their bite.

4. Cheaters never win

While in the throes of a two-game losing streak, the Jets became the subject of an NFL investigation for the third time in a three-month span, including the notorious Brett Favre-Jenn Sterger inquest.

During a Week 14 game against the Miami Dolphins, Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi deliberately tripped Dolphins rookie cornerback Nolan Carroll as he was running near the sideline to cover a punt.

In the aftermath of this incident, Alosi issued an immediate apology before being fined $25,000 and indefinitely suspended from the team.

The Jets maintain Alosi acted alone despite player testimony and visual evidence suggesting head coach Rex Ryan and special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff were fully aware Alosi engineered the formation of a wall along the sidelines, leading to the tripping fiasco.

To add insult to injury, the Jets lost the game to their division foes, 10-6, dashing all hopes of winning the AFC East crown.

3. Women should be treated with respect

Prior to the start of the season, the Jets embroiled themselves in controversy when Inés Sainz, a reporter for Mexico’s TV Azteca, became victim to a hostile and unprofessional working environment as she attempted to interview quarterback Mark Sanchez.

In accounts provided by the New York Post, Jets defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman purposely overthrew footballs to players during a drill for defensive backs so that the passes would land near Sainz on the sideline.

This was followed by defensive lineman Jason Taylor, a husband and father of three children, volunteering to take part in the drills even though he isn't part of Thurman’s unit.

Rex Ryan, a husband and father of two sons himself, also got involved when he had Thurman run a pattern near the sideline and intentionally overthrew him in Sainz's direction.

If this wasn’t enough, Sainz was greeted by catcalls and hooting in the Jets locker room at the conclusion of practice to which defensive tackle Kris Jenkins declared, “This is our locker room!” when Sainz was asked if she was OK.

"I die of embarrassment!" Sainz wrote in Spanish on her Twitter account. "I am in the locker room of the Jets waiting for Mark Sanchez while trying not to look to anywhere!"

As a result, the NFL launched an investigation in the wake of a complaint made by the Association of Women in Sports Media against the Jets.

Needless to say, this was inexcusable and egregious behavior from grown men, many of whom are husbands and fathers, including the head coach.

2. Friends don’t let friends drink and drive

Less than two weeks after the Inés Sainz scandal, enigmatic wide receiver Braylon Edwards was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI).

Police officers initially stopped Edwards for excessive tinting on his white Land Rover but Edwards’ bloodshot, watery eyes and the strong smell of alcohol in the vehicle prompted further investigation.


Subsequently, Edwards consented to and failed a breathalyzer examination, where it was determined his blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit, leading to his arrest.

Among the four passengers in Edwards’ vehicle at the time of the arrest were teammates D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Vernon Gholston.

Fortunately, this error in judgment on the part of all three Jets players did not result in anyone getting hurt, but the potential alone should have been reason for pause on the evening in question.

1. The future looks bright

In the past 31 years, the Jets have not enjoyed a more successful two-year run than they have experienced under Rex Ryan, whose résumé now consists of 20 regular season victories, two consecutive playoff appearances, four road playoff victories in six games and two consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances.

And with an aggressive front office committed to making the moves necessary to keep them in title contention, the Jets will be a force to be reckoned with for several years to come.

So, Gang Green does have reason to hold their heads high, especially after they clawed back from a 24-0 deficit against the Steelers to pull to within one touchdown of completing an improbable comeback.

The Jets can learn from this experience, as well as the mistakes they made throughout the season to sabotage themselves.

If they do grow from these trials and tribulations, Rex Ryan will have pulled off his most masterful coaching job yet.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

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The Intruiging Possibilities For Super Bowl XLV

Just how intriguing can this year’s Super Bowl be? Let’s now look at what are some of the match ups and scenarios that could be possibilities after the AFC/NFC championship games end:

Green Bay Packers vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Two historic franchises could frame the ultimate David and Goliath-type of match up if they have their way in their conference finals.

The Steelers would be the out-right favorite as the stronger team on both sides of the ball that could brew up headaches for the Packers coaching staff. Pittsburgh is a team that has seen it all, done it all, and facing a potent Green Bay offense will not scare their defense.

After playing through two road games though, the Packers could surely enhance their confidence going into the Super Bowl if they could knock off the Bears in Chicago.

Key Match Up: Aaron Rodgers arm vs Troy Polamalu’s Defensive Instincts

Chicago Bears vs Pittsburgh Steelers

If you are a fan of old school football, bone-crunching tackles, and an all out war between two sides, pray that this will be the two teams that come out of championship week successful.

Both teams have strong beliefs that they have the best defense in the league; but can you blame them? They both play in divisions that require top notch, smash mouth hitters on the defensive side of the ball. Toughness is the identity both defenses wear on their sleeves like tattoos.

Yet, despite having the ability to stop their opposition from scoring, putting up points will be more of a problem for both squads. Both are capable of making plays on offense, but that will be a more difficult task to accomplish against the other’s defense. So if you like high scoring and big offensive plays, you better hope this isn’t how the Super Bowl ends up when the dust clears on championship weekend.

Key Match Up: Chicago’s Offense vs Pittsburgh’s Offense

Chicago Bears vs New York Jets

This is quite an intriguing match up for teams whose offenses are like old, rundown cars: sometimes they have trouble starting and often end up stalling towards the end of the ride.

While the Jets defense is not on an elite level as the Bears or Steelers are, their resume during this post season run says otherwise. If you can contain a Colts and Patriots offense (led by Peyton Manning and Tom Brady) from scoring more than your offense that is questionable in terms of when it will show up, then you should have that swagger of feeling elite. Yet, both New England and Indianapolis don’t have defenses like the Bears do.

The key on both sides will be special teams, as each have weapons that can make big splashes in the return game (Devin Hester for Chicago and Antonio Cromartie for New York). Field position will be the ultimate key in a game where both offenses need as much help as possible.

Key Match Up: Chicago Bears Special Teams vs New York Jets Special Teams

Green Bay Packers vs New York Jets

Who wouldn’t want to see these two storied franchises, who combined to win the first three Super Bowls ever played, go up against each other for a title for the first time ever?

This match up would have the most common playing field in terms of talents and strength if these historic teams were to face off against each other. Both have young quarterbacks that are looking to prove they belong in the discussion as elite talents. Their offenses are similar in that they are stronger at one facet of the game (Jets running game and Packers passing ability) than the other (Jets passing game and Packers rushing ability).

Both defenses are exceptional, especially against the pass, but it is the Jets that have the advantage on stopping the ground game than the Packers are. It would also be an intriguing match up on the sidelines with Ryan’s abrasive, boisterous personality against coach Mike McCarthy’s calm, serene demeanor.

Key Matchup: Packers Run Defense vs Jets Run Offense

Anyway you look at it, the potential battles that the Super Bowl may entail is exciting to imagine. Aside from the great match ups, this year’s game or winner could give a refreshing new look for one of the most watched sports events every year. Of the remaining teams, only the Pittsburgh and Chicago are also the only teams of the last four that have played in the game since 2000 (and only the Steelers have won a title since the turn of the new decade).

Intriguing…isn’t it?

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An Unexpected Final Four For The 2011 NFL Playoffs

We are inching ever so close to Super Bowl 2011 and just trying to figure out who will play for the Vince Lombardi trophy is puzzling. The NFC and AFC Championship games will feature four teams who many had no belief would make it this far, let alone the playoffs.



Who could have ever seen this coming?



The NFC side will showcase the sixth seed Green Bay Packers, who stormed through Phildelphia and Atlanta, against their division rival and second seeded Chicago Bears, who dismantled Seattle with ease after a first round bye. The boastful New York Jets, who shocked both Indianapolis and New England in their house, will battle the enduring Pittsburgh Steelers, a team fresh off a hard fought victory over the Baltimore Ravens, for the AFC title game.



This is definitely a season where betting on the underdog could churn a hefty pay out. It is stunning to see a playoff picture with notable absences in the playoffs over the past few years (those usuals include New England, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Philadelphia). Even more surprising is how they were all shocked by teams most gave no chance to win.



How could these franchises be just one step away from the professional football title game when they were never in the discussion to reach this far at any point this season?



Let’s look at the 2010 journey for these four squads.





Chicago Bears





Prior to the start of the season: The Bears are like the old, historical pirates that people hear stories about: lost at sea with no compass to direct them, yet somehow they find their destination. It was only five years ago that this team made it to the Super Bowl, only to lose at the hands of Peyton Manning and his Colts. Since then, they have had only one winning season and no playoff appearances. It looked like it would be another season of watching from home with the Vikings loading up again and Green Bay looking ready to take the next step.



During the season: That outlook on the season was very much a skewed according to the Bears. With Cutler’s improvement and a defense that looked like the one from five years ago, the Bears appeared back to their winning ways. They started out hot, winning their first three and taking top billing over the NFC Central, but sputtered a bit as they entered their bye week losing three of four. They would recover to rip off five straight wins and they would lock up the division, as well as the second seed of the playoffs.





Green Bay Packers





Prior to the start of the season: For the cheese heads, it was all about taking down their rivals Minnesota Vikings and their former messiah Brett Favre after they watched him march the Vikes to the 2009 NFC Championship game. Aaron Rodgers finally got a taste of the playoffs in 2009, and he revived faith in an organization that he could begin a new chapter in the Packers history book.



During the season: The franchise and its fans rode that same hope as the Packers would go on to a 6-3 record to start the season. As the year progressed, it was obvious that the Vikings ship was sunk and the only barrier that stood between Green Bay and the division title were the Bears. They would remain neck and neck with Chicago after their bye week, but a Rodgers concussion quickly halted their chance to take over the division. They would win the last game of the season, luckily securing them the final spot in the playoffs.





Pittsburg Steelers





Prior to the season: After winning another title during the 2009 season, the Steelers looked ready to return back to the promise land. With QB Ben Roethlisberger still under center, and defensive beasts Troy Polamalu and James Harrison making big plays, it seemed inevitable. The Ravens would erase those happens after taking the last spot of the playoffs away from them. Then, prior to the start of this season, Roethlisberger was suspended for the first four games of the season and it looked like 2010 had a high probability of replicating the 2009 season.



During the season: Lucky for the Steelers, Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch were able to keep the team afloat with three wins in the four games Roethlisberger was suspended for. After their bye week and Roethlisberger’s activation, the team continued floating higher and higher in the standings. They would go on to win nine of their last twelve games of the season and only trailed behind the Patriots for the best record in the AFC.





New York Jets





Prior to the season: If anyone selected the Jets as one of the participants in the AFC title game in 2009, then give yourself a round of applause. What the achieved that season was miraculous, despite the bellowing from their rambunctious leader Rex Ryan that this team was a Super Bowl contender. That success led to their own reality show, in which those same prophecies that Ryan had been loudly protesting became the moniker of the show. Despite the hype, most felt that his bantering was nothing more than hot air and that the team would not be able to duplicate their overachieving success from 2009.



During the season: Those J-E-T-S, Jets! Jets! Jets! would show off early that coach Ryan’s boldness was felt throughout his players. They would start the season 5-1 and looked to finally prove the naysayers wrong in that they were an elite team. Then, after winning four of their next five after their bye week, the Jets would stumble by losing back-to-back games and concerns were raised that QB Mark Sanchez may be starting to choke. They would go on to win two of their last three, eventually capturing the final playoff spot.



It’ll be interesting to see how the final two stages of the season play out and what scenarios will be brought up for the Super Bowl. Both conference championship games will be exciting when they are played out and will produce a participant for the NFL title that no one expected.



Unforeseen endings will most likely be the theme heading into the final game, just as it has been for the first two rounds of this year’s playoffs.

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New York Jets Must Keep Mark Sanchez Clean in AFC Championship Game

When the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers take the field in the AFC Championship Game, among the main goals for both teams will be to place the opposing quarterback under constant siege and ensure their own signal caller remains as comfortable in the pocket as possible.

In the Divisional Playoffs, the Jets demonstrated how the brilliant execution of this stratagem can alter the outlook of a game from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.

Coming into the playoffs, the New England Patriots ranked second in the AFC (fifth in the NFL) on the New York Life Protection Index, the authoritative measure of a team’s aptitude in pass protection, while Gang Green narrowly finished outside the top five in the conference, coming in at No. 7 (11th in the NFL).

However, the roles were dramatically reversed in the third clash between the heated division rivals last week.

The Patriots defense didn’t register a sack or a single quarterback hit during the entire contest, allowing Mark Sanchez, the Jets’ second-year field general, to enjoy the best game of his young career.

Sanchez tied a franchise single-game postseason record by throwing three touchdown passes, joining Chad Pennington, Joe Namath, Pat Ryan and Vinny Testaverde, and registered a sparkling quarterback rating of 127.3 in guiding the Jets to their second consecutive AFC Championship Game.

And Sanchez’s glowing success can primarily be attributed to an offensive line charged with the duty of keeping his uniform squeaky clean, an assignment that has truly been taken to heart in the postseason.

During the regular season, the Jets tied for 4th in the conference in fewest sacks allowed. But in the playoffs, the Jets not only lead the AFC in this category, they rank first in the league.

Surprisingly though, the Patriots offensive line, who were second in the AFC in fewest sacks allowed, was uncharacteristically porous against the Jets, surrendering five sacks and seven quarterback hits.

As a result of an unstable pocket and solid coverage in the secondary, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was never able to get into the rhythm that made him the overwhelming favorite to win the NFL’s MVP Award.

The rest is Jets history.

But the Pittsburgh Steelers will be the Jets’ stiffest challenge to date.

The modern-day Steel Curtain recorded a league-high 48 sacks this season, a key ingredient to an AFC North Division-winning 12-4 campaign.

Pittsburgh’s second-ranked defense sacked opposing quarterbacks 44 times in their 12 wins, an average of 3.67 sacks/game and 91.7 percent of their sack total, while registering only four sacks in their losses.

In addition, the Steelers averaged 4.92 quarterback hits per game in their wins and 3.75 hits per game in four losses.

So, as evidenced, in order for Pittsburgh to be successful, one of their primary goals will be to generate a tremendous amount of pressure on Mark Sanchez, which they failed to do against the Jets (one sack, two quarterback hits) last month in a 22-17 loss.

This is where the Jets must duplicate their success in Indianapolis and New England, a task much easier said than done.

On the opposite side of the ball, the Jets defense tied for fourth in the AFC with 40 sacks, but the Steelers offense was second in the conference in sacks allowed (43) and ranked 26th in the league on the New York Life Protection Index.

But although pass protection isn’t high on the list when gauging Pittsburgh’s success this season, it still doesn’t change the Jets’ defensive goal to make it as long of a day for Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at Heinz Field as they made it for Tom Brady in Foxborough.

Essentially, the game will boil down to the battle in the trenches, especially between the Jets offensive line, in concert with their pass protection schemes, and the Steelers defensive line, combined with the blitz packages they will bring to the table.

Who will win?

Any guess is as good as the flip of a coin.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

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New York Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez Comes of Age in Foxboro

It was only fitting that quarterback Mark Sanchez had the ball in his hands to conclude the AFC Divisional Playoff game between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots.

In two seasons as the Jets signal caller, Sanchez’s visits to Gillette Stadium have ended in such disappointment and failure it could be easily argued the Patriots home field had become his personal house of horrors.

As a rookie in 2009, Sanchez had his most forgettable game of the season in Foxborough, completing only 8-of-21 passes for 136 yards, one touchdown and four debilitating interceptions.

Sanchez’s quarterback rating for the game was an appalling 37.1, and not surprisingly, the Jets lost a 31-14 laugher to their heated division rivals.

This season, Gang Green’s second trip to Gillette Stadium in the Rex Ryan era culminated in the team’s worst defeat in 24 years, as well as the poorest performance in the young career of the 24-year-old Sanchez.

With Sanchez completing 17-of-33 passes for 164 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions to earn a dreadful quarterback rating of 27.8, the Jets received the same 45-3 lambasting from New England they did in 1986 at the hands of the Miami Dolphins.

So as the Jets prepared for their third meeting with the Patriots in Foxboro, this time with a trip to the AFC Championship Game on the line, the onus was on Sanchez to finally exorcise those demons in what his head coach called the second biggest game in team history.

However, whether inadvertently or purposefully, Rex Ryan and starting cornerback Antonio Cromartie created the smokescreen needed to deflect pressure away from the Jets second-year quarterback, allowing Sanchez to focus on improved ball security and executing the game plan formulated by offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

And on a glorious Sunday afternoon in Gillette Stadium, Sanchez lived up to every bit of the potential that was seen, when the Jets selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Sanchez didn’t just play turnover-free game; he outplayed and outshined Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in leading New York to a 28-21 upset victory and clinching the Jets’ second consecutive trek to the AFC Championship Game.

In the type of performance that should inspire profuse praise from Joe Namath, Sanchez completed 64.0 percent of his passes (16-for-25) for 194 yards and three touchdowns, including a picture-perfect seven-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Santonio Holmes to give the Jets a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

It certainly helped that the Jets’ offensive line didn’t allow a sack and kept Sanchez from getting hit during the entire game, a stark contrast to Tom Brady’s day at the office.

During the regular season, New England ranked fifth on the New York Life Protection Index, a measure of a team’s aptitude in pass protection, while New York came into the playoffs with the 11th best rating.

However, Brady was sacked five times and hit seven as the Jets pass rush made him extremely uncomfortable in the pocket throughout the game.

On the other side of the ball, Sanchez was afforded a clean pocket to throw in and, as a consequence, figuratively grew up before the nation’s eyes.

Among his accomplishments on the day, Sanchez became the first quarterback since 2000 to throw for three touchdowns against the Bill Belichick-led Patriots in the postseason (Donovan McNabb, Jake Delhomme).

In addition, Sanchez tied a franchise single-game postseason record when he threw his third and most impressive touchdown of the game, joining Chad Pennington, Pat Ryan, Vinny Testaverde and Joe Namath in Jets lore.

More importantly though, Sanchez proved, without a shadow of a doubt, he can be counted to shine on the grandest of stages.

It can also be said, with no equivocation, Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets, individually and collectively, exorcised the demons that had been haunting them in Foxboro.

Click here to read the original article at SportsHaze.com.

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Reggie Jackson Tells Jets' Cromartie to Shut Up and Play

In the aftermath of Antonio Cromartie’s candid assessment of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, reaction poured in from every nook and cranny of the football world, including the anticipated diplomatic response from the target of Cromartie’s venom.

The verbal assault on Brady also struck a chord with one of the renowned clutch performers in Major League Baseball history and inspired him enough to publicly express his feelings on the matter.

During 1050 ESPN Radio’s The Michael Kay Show, New York Yankee legend Reggie Jackson made an unscheduled appearance on the program to relay a poignant message to the brash Jets’ cornerback.

"What are you talking about? What are you doing? Shut up, play football," Jackson said when asked for his thoughts on Cromartie’s comments. "What are you talking about Bill Belichick and these people for? Spend your time looking at film, spend your time knocking down a pass. What are you doing? You're not affecting Brady; you're wasting time."

As a first-ballot Hall of Famer and a five-time World Series Champion, Jackson, nicknamed “Mr. October” for his memorable postseason heroics, fervently rallied to the defense of Brady, who’s destined to stroll into Canton on the first ballot and whose playoff resume is equally prodigious.

"This guy is an automatic Hall of Famer, making fun of him is like making fun of Mariano Rivera," Jackson added. "What are you doing? What are you doing?"

Prior to joining the New York Jets this season, Cromartie was a member of the San Diego Chargers from 2006-2009.

During this span, the Chargers went 46-18 (.719) in the regular season and 3-4 (.429) in the playoffs, with no Super Bowl appearances to show for all their success when it counted least.

In addition, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were directly responsible for half of San Diego’s four playoff exits when Cromartie was on the roster.

After a 14-2 season, the Chargers were stunned by New England, 24-21, in the 2007 AFC Divisional Playoffs, a game in which Brady threw for 280 yards, two touchdowns and led the Patriots on an 8-play, 72-yard drive for the game-winning field goal.

In the following year’s AFC Championship Game, Brady broke San Diego’s hearts yet again with another two touchdown performance.

This time Brady sealed the deal with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring in a 21-12 New England victory.

So Cromartie is much more familiar with Brady than many people may realize and, apparently, familiarity has bred contempt.

But Reggie Jackson was completely unsympathetic to Cromartie’s deep-seeded resentment of the two-time Super Bowl MVP.

"Go look at the hardware, dude. Walk through the lobby up there and look at the stuff that's there," Jackson went to say. "You don't have that, you don't have anything close to that. You might want to shut up, you might learn something. Read, you might figure something out. Watch film, you might get educated. If not, you have a chance to get embarrassed on Sunday. I hope you don't, because I like the Jets."

Will those same feelings be reciprocated by Antonio Cromartie?

Privately or publicly, chances are Cromartie will have the same two-word responses for Jackson’s comments as he did when questioned about Tom Brady.

Click here to read the original article on SportsHaze.com.

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Now It's Personal: Jets' Antonio Cromartie Calls Tom Brady "An Ass---."

For those who scoffed at Rex Ryan’s claims that the upcoming AFC Divisional Playoff game between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets is “personal,” an immediate change of heart is in full order after Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie openly expressed his feelings for Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady.

When asked what he thought of Brady in an interview with the Daily News, Cromartie took the road less traveled by calling New England’s field general “An ass----" and added, “F--- him” to punctuate his in-depth analysis.

This latest salvo in an increasingly intense Jets-Patriots rivalry found inspiration from Brady’s alleged celebratory finger-pointing taunts during New England’s 45-3 annihilation of the Jets back in December.

Inadvertently, Cromartie's head coach tossed him an alley-oop by referring to these antics as simply “Brady being Brady,” and Cromartie proceeded to slam dunk the no-look pass with the authority and force of NBA power forward Blake Griffin.

"That's what I think about him. I don't really give a damn about him," Cromartie said. "I don't have to play against him. I play against the receivers."

At this point in the season and his career, it would serve no purpose for Brady to respond in kind to Cromartie’s comments, as his play on the field has spoken volumes about how far he has separated himself from his contemporaries.

Just as Brady humbled the Jets by dissecting them with surgical precision last month, if the Jets are truly offended by Brady’s on-field verbal and non-verbal jabs, then all they have to do is minimize his success on the field.

There were absolutely no references made to Brady taunting them when the Jets defeated the Patriots 28-14 in their first meeting of the season.

This is because the Jets allowed Brady to complete only 55.6 percent of his passes (20-of-36) for 248 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Brady’s quarterback rating was a pedestrian 72.5.

During that game, it would come as a surprise to discover the Jets didn’t give Brady "the business" while they were in the midst of stifling his efforts to put points on the boards.

So when he redeemed himself in Foxborough with a vengeance, the Jets had to expect Brady to jump on the chance to return the favor.

After all, it’s only fitting when the swagger with which the Jets entered this season and postseason is taken into consideration.

In any case, this latest development in the Jets’ media assault on the Patriots only serves to add intrigue, intensity and significance to the game, the “game within the game” and the intercity rivalry between Boston and New York.

Click here to read the original article on SportsHaze.com.

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New York Jets Have Demons to Exorcise in Foxborough

After the New York Jets’ heart-stopping victory over the Indianapolis Colts during Wild Card weekend, head coach Rex Ryan breathed a huge sigh of relief because he finally vanquished his personal “white whale,” Peyton Manning.

And true to his character, Ryan, still in the afterglow of his most satisfying victory, proceeded to resume a one-sided war of words with head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, who the Jets will face this weekend in Gillette Stadium.

In a span of less than a week, Ryan went from pontificating that Brady only thinks he’s as studious as Peyton Manning to boldly declaring the upcoming AFC divisional playoff game is about “Bill Belichick versus Rex Ryan.”

Now several analysts have given Ryan a pass for employing this seemingly brilliant stratagem of deflecting attention away from his team, but the fact remains the Patriots have owned the Jets in New England the past two years.

New York is 0-2 at Gillette Stadium in the Rex Ryan era and the games weren’t close to being competitive in any way, shape or form.

At Foxborough, Gang Green was outscored 76-17, out-gained 815-627 and turned the ball over a grand total of eight times. On the other side of the ball, the Patriots have only one turnover in their last two home games against the Jets.

However, the most salient difference between the Jets and the Patriots was at the quarterback position, where Tom Brady thoroughly outplayed and out-shined second-year signal caller Mark Sanchez.

Against the Patriots on the road, Sanchez is an abysmal 25 for 54 (46.3 percent) for 300 yards with one touchdown and eight interceptions. Furthermore, Sanchez’s quarterback rating in the two contests were 37.1 and 27.8 respectively.

Meanwhile, Brady, the leading candidate for this season’s MVP award, has been absolutely sterling against the Jets within the friendly confines of Gillette Stadium. In fact, Brady toyed with the vaunted Jets’ defense like no other quarterback has done in the league.

Brady completed an astonishing 70.0 percent of his passes (49 for 70) for 636 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions, which all added up to quarterback ratings of 98.6 and 148.9, respectively, in the aforementioned games.

All this from a quarterback who Ryan believes doesn't study as diligently as Peyton Manning. If this is the case then what does Ryan’s subtle dig say about his team’s ability to stop Brady?

Instead, what Ryan truly needs to comprehend is empty rhetoric doesn’t pay the bills in the National Football League.

What wins football games are a turnover-free offense, an opportunistic defense and a quarterback up to the task of playing at his best when the stakes are the highest.

Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots trounced the Jets in all three of these phases the last two times they faced each other up north.

In addition, the Patriots have gone 16-0 in the regular season at home the last two years, including the 31-14 beating and 45-3 shellacking they laid on their heated division rivals.

These are the demons Gang Green must exorcise to go to their second consecutive AFC Championship Game.

And if Rex Ryan manages to pull off this exorcism, it may propel the New York Jets to their first Super Bowl in over 40 years.

Then he can talk all he wants.

Click here to read the original article on SportsHaze.com.

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New York Jets Have Become NFL's New Age Outlaws

In a season best described as ‘Super Bowl or Bust’, the New York Jets have made a habit of generating more headlines for antics unrelated to their play on the field.

Prior to the start of the season, controversy arose when Inés Sainz, a reporter for Mexico’s TV Azteca, was subjected to footballs being thrown in her direction during a team practice and players' catcalls inside the locker room afterwards.

As a result, the NFL launched an investigation in the wake of a complaint made by the Association of Women in Sports Media against Gang Green.

This embarassing incident came on the heels of the Jets’ highly publicized appearance on HBO: Hard Knocks, which served to highlight the arrogance, boldness and confidence of the front office, the coaches and the players.

But although the aforementioned complaint had the potential to rock the team's foundation to its core, the Jets emerged from the ensuing melodrama virtually unscathed.

However, less than two weeks later, enigmatic wide receiver Braylon Edwards was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI). Police officers initially stopped Edwards for excessive tinting on his white Land Rover but Edwards’ bloodshot, watery eyes and the strong smell of alcohol in the vehicle prompted further investigation.

Subsequently, Edwards consented to and failed a breathalyzer examination, where it was determined his blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit, leading to his arrest. Among the four passengers in Edwards’ vehicle at the time of the arrest were teammates D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Vernon Gholston.

The Jets disciplined Edwards with a token first quarter suspension against the Miami Dolphins and his case has been adjourned until January 11, which also happens to be the week of the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

So in a span of ten days, the Jets organization found itself ensconced in two scandals that could have sent their season into an unrecoverable tailspin. But undaunted, Gang Green regained their swagger by winning 8 of its next 9 games as the aforementioned cases gradually dissipated from the public consciousness.

Unfortunately, while in the throes of a two-game losing streak, the Jets have become the subject of an NFL investigation for the third time in three months, including the ongoing Brett Favre-Jenn Sterger inquest.

During last Sunday’s game against Miami, Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi deliberately tripped Dolphins rookie cornerback Nolan Carroll as he was running near the sideline on a punt return. In response, Alosi issued an immediate apology before being fined $25,000 and indefinitely suspended from the team.

The Jets maintain Alosi acted alone despite player testimony and visual evidence suggesting head coach Rex Ryan and special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff were fully aware Alosi engineered the formation of a wall along the sidelines, leading to the tripping fiasco.

Thus, while Alosi seriously contemplates a name change to Lee Harvey Oswald, the Jets have once again stained the NFL’s image with behavior that reflects the personality of their head coach.

In the 1970’s and the 1980’s, Oakland Raiders general managing partner Al Davis transformed the ‘Silver and Black’ into a cast of mavericks and outlaws with trademarked slogans such as “Commitment to Excellence”, “Just Win, Baby” and “Pride and Poise”.

Now it appears the Jets have become the league’s new age outlaws which, for professional wrestling fans in the know, happened to be the name of a popular WWE tag team in the late 1990’s that ran with a stable appropriately dubbed Degeneration X.

Degenerates? Outlaws? Is this how owner Woody Johnson wants the New York Jets to be remembered in this decade?

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a recap of the notorious 'Tripping Incident'.

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Nolan Caroll Gets Tripped By NY Jets Assistant Coach

For those eager few that are on National Football League special teams, you'd expect to be hit by an opposing player.

However, I'm pretty sure that you weren't expecting a coach from the sidelines.

The below video occurred during the Jets/Dolphins game and appears that Dolphins special teamer Nolan Caroll is tripped by a Jets assistant Sal Alosi on the sidelines after a third quarter punt:

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Are the New York Jets for Real or Beneficiaries of an Easy Schedule?

Through twelve weeks of action in the National Football League, the New York Jets are sitting atop the AFC East at 9-2 and, with three more victories, will equal the mark for most regular season wins in the franchise’s 50-year history.

If these distinctions aren’t enough to whet the appetites of their Super Bowl-starved fans, the fact that the Jets have the inside track to home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs should send the Gang Green faithful into a virtual feeding frenzy.

But although the Jets are tied with the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots for the league’s best record entering Week 13, they are widely considered contenders when the mythical title of the NFL’s top team is passed around from week to week.

This lack of consideration can largely be attributed to the Jets racking up their nine wins against teams with a combined record of 39-68 (.364), including the Buffalo Bills (2-10), the Minnesota Vikings (5-7), the Denver Broncos (3-9), the Detroit Lions (2-10), the Cleveland Browns (5-7), the Houston Texans (5-7) and the Cincinnati Bengals (2-10).

In fact, New York’s margin of victory against these seven sub-.500 teams is 9.3 points per game, with five of those wins (Vikings, Broncos, Lions, Browns, Texans) coming by an average margin of only five points per game.

So this speaks to the notion that the Jets have been playing down to the level of their competition for the majority of the season only to eke out late, and oftentimes come-from-behind, victories against the cellar dwellers in the NFL.

The only team with a winning record the Jets have defeated this season is the Patriots (9-2) in Week 2, while their two losses came against two of the league’s better teams in the Baltimore Ravens (8-3) and the Green Bay Packers (8-4).

However, whether Gang Green is considered more lucky than good, the undeniable truth is they are one of three teams in the NFL with nine wins, which leaves them poised to take a stranglehold of the AFC East at the conclusion of Week 13 action.

Speaking of good, except for the final week of the season when they play host to Buffalo, the Jets’ championship mettle will be put to the ultimate test, as their schedule consists of games against teams with a combined record of 32-14 (.696), which includes three road contests at New England, at Pittsburgh (8-3) and at Chicago (9-3).

Therefore, it could easily be argued that the next four weeks will reveal more about the Jets than the first 12 because they won’t be playing any more playoff pretenders.

The first examination is a Monday Night Football showdown with the New England Patriots in a battle for division supremacy. And the tests will only get more difficult with each passing week.

Will the real New York Jets please stand up?

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a breakdown of the Monday Night Football showdown between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots.

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New York Jets Fan Falls Down Escalator

The New York Jets recently moved into the comfy new digs of the New Meadowland Stadium but some Jets fans are still adjusting to it.

Watch at the bottom of the opposite escalator at the :11-15 second mark as one fan has some trouble and falls down it:



(Courtesy of Sportress of Blogitude)

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NFL, NY Jets must punish Braylon Edwards swiftly and severely

Less than two weeks after the New York Jets made headlines for their questionable treatment of TV Azteca reporter Inés Sainz, the spotlight has been shone brightly on Gang Green again for an incident completely unrelated to their play on the field.

According to ESPN.com, Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards was arrested early Tuesday morning on Manhattan’s West Side for driving while intoxicated (DWI). Police officers initially stopped Edwards for excessive tinting on his white Land Rover but Edwards’ bloodshot, watery eyes and the strong smell of alcohol in the vehicle prompted further investigation.

Subsequently, Edwards consented to and failed a breathalyzer examination where it was determined that his blood alcohol content was 0.16, twice the national legal limit of 0.08, leading to his arrest. Among the four passengers in Edwards’ vehicle at the time of the arrest were teammates D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Vernon Gholston.

General manager Mike Tannenbaum said in a statement released by the team:

"We are very disappointed in Braylon’s actions this morning. The Player Protect program is in place for our organization to prevent this situation. Braylon is aware of this program and showed poor judgment.

We are reviewing the information with the league and will impose the appropriate disciplinary measures."

PlayerProtect is a 24-hour full-service security and security driving company that works exclusively with professional athletes. PlayerProtect agents are current or former law enforcement officers. Services include security driving for trips to New York City, dinners, clubs and media and social events.

Ironically, in March 2009, Edwards was drinking with former Cleveland Browns teammate Donté Stallworth, the morning Stallworth struck and killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes in Miami, Florida. Stallworth was legally drunk at the time of the accident as his blood alcohol content was measured at 0.12.

Stallworth was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and second degree manslaughter in April 2009 and, after pleading guilty to the charges, received a sentence of thirty days in jail, 1,000 hours of community service, two years under house arrest, and eight years probation. In addition, Stallworth received a lifetime suspension of his Florida state driver's license.

Prior to his release from prison in July 2009, Stallworth and the Reyes family reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount to circumvent a civil lawsuit.

On August 13, 2009, National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Stallworth for the entire 2009 season without pay. However, since his reinstatement after Super Bowl XLIV, Stallworth has found a home again in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens.

Although his punishment should not be as severe, the NFL and the New York Jets must act swiftly to discipline Edwards for behavior that could have easily led to the same tragedy that befell the Reyes family when Stallworth got behind the wheel of his car with a lower blood alcohol content than Edwards had at the time of his arrest.

Select Jets’ coaches and players may have gotten off with a slap on the wrist when it came to their behavior toward Inés Sainz, but Goodell and the Jets organization must be unified in their commitment to establish a zero tolerance policy when it comes to DUI/DWI; especially in light of what happened to Donté Stallworth less than two years ago.

As it stands, if he’s convicted or pleads no contest, Edwards’ arrest for DWI could be viewed as a second violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy, leading to a possible suspension.

In October 2009, Edwards was accused of punching a man outside of a Cleveland nightclub. The victim was an acquaintance of LeBron James. Edwards pleaded not guilty at the time, but he ended up pleading no contest to misdemeanor aggravated disorderly conduct. He received probation and a $1,000 fine.

Currently, Edwards can only face discipline under the NFL’s substance abuse policy, in which he faces a maximum fine of $50,000.

Therefore, all eyes will focus intently on the Jets organization and how they deal with Edwards as an important divisional game against the Miami Dolphins looms on the horizon; and the team as well as the NFL can ill afford unmerited leniency when several of those eyes belong to the family of Mario Reyes.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation.

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Is This How Men Really Feel About The Inés Sainz-NY Jets saga?

"You know man, I think you put women reporters in the locker room in positions to see guys walking around naked, and you sit in the locker room with 53 guys, and all of the sudden you see a nice woman in the locker room, I think men are gonna tend to turn and look and want to say something to that woman. For the woman, I think they make it so much that you can't interact and you can't be involved with athletes, you can't talk to these guys, you can't interact with these guys.

And I mean, you put a woman and you give her a choice of 53 athletes, somebody got to be appealing to her. You know, somebody got to spark her interest, or she's gonna want somebody. I don't know what kind of woman won't, if you get to go and look at 53 men's packages. And you're just sitting here, saying 'Oh, none of this is attractive to me.' I know you're doing a job, but at the same time, the same way I'm gonna cut my eye if I see somebody worth talking to, I'm sure they do the same thing."

- Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis

“All I can do is LOL at the jets Female Reporter! She walks into a locker room full of men and think someone not gonna say nothing LMFAO!!!”

“I don’t know what was said to her or whatever but u just have to know u going into a TEAM LOCKEROOM, and if its that serious WOMEN STAY OUT!”

- Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett via Twitter

"If you come into the NFL dressed the way that she is dressed you are just asking for it. I think she brings it upon herself. I don't know how you let her on a practice field (looking like that)."

"Listen, these are painted on jeans. She's got a shirt that is just glued to her body. If you want her to walk up there and do an interview with Mark Sanchez, put her in a room with Mark Sanchez. Don't take her through the locker room."

- FOX NFL analyst Brian Baldinger

Surprisingly, Brian Baldinger, Clinton Portis and Darnell Dockett represent a small sampling of men all across the country that firmly hold the opinion Mexican television reporter Inés Sainz got exactly what she deserved when she attended a New York Jets practice and, subsequently, entered the team locker room to conduct an interview with quarterback Mark Sanchez.

This controversial stance stems from the argument that Sainz, who is an extremely attractive and curvaceous woman by all accounts, was dressed inappropriately for the assignment and is more style than substance when it comes to her journalistic integrity.

So although Sainz was dispatched by Mexico’s TV Azteca to the Jets’ practice facility in Florham Park, New Jersey and was credentialed by the team to conduct the interview with Sanchez, there is a widespread view among men that she didn’t belong on the field and in the locker room due to her attire, which consisted of a form-fitting white blouse and tight blue jeans, and, as a result, Sainz should have expected the treatment she received.

Interestingly, this begs the question would these opinions be held as firmly when the following scenario is taken into consideration:

One night, a young woman, with a reputation for being promiscuous, goes to a seedy bar and becomes extremely intoxicated. With the jukebox playing, the woman does a provocative dance and begins flirting with a male patron in the bar's back room.

The man, who is also drunk, picks the woman up, lays her down on top of a pool table, and begins to assault her. The other men present in the back room encourage the assailant and, when he’s finished, two more men take their turns assaulting the woman. Finally, she escapes and runs weeping out onto the highway, crying for help.

The aforementioned scenario is a brief synopsis of a 1988 film called The Accused starring Jodie Foster and Kelly McGillis, which was based on a true story.

Did the woman get what she deserved because of a combination of how she was labeled, the way she dressed and the way she conducted herself?

Although it’s a huge leap from verbal abuse to physical abuse/rape, the basic premise is the same; men holding to the belief that talking to and treating a woman in a disrespectful fashion is justified based on the way they act and/or dress.

Is this how men really feel in the 21st century; men who are brothers, husbands and fathers to women who could be easily on the receiving end of this type of treatment? If so, this is a sad commentary on how far the gender has come in their attitude toward women.

However, there remains hope that change can be effected; but it must come from within before it can be manifested without.

Inés Sainz is merely a product of a game that, justly and unjustly, rewards the most attractive women with screen time. Therefore, the accusatory fingers should be pointed at the system as a whole rather than its individual moving pieces.

More importantly though, these women should not be judged and treated by the appearance that belies their true character and they deserve the dignity and respect that is so easily afforded to their male contemporaries.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation.

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Female Reporter Not Offended by NY Jets’ Alleged Sexually Harassing Behavior

As reported here, a complaint was made by the Association for Women in Sports Media against the New York Jets, citing sexually harassing behavior directed toward Mexican television reporter Inés Sainz at Saturday’s team practice and in the locker room afterwards.

In response, the National Football League has launched an investigation to verify the complaint’s legitimacy. Meanwhile, team officials are doing everything within their power to diffuse the situation as expeditiously and painlessly as possible.

However, less than one day later, Sainz provided new perspective on an incident that has taken much of the focus away from Gang Green’s Monday Night Football home opener at the new Meadowlands Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens.

According to the New York Post, in a piece that ran for the Mexican television station DeporTV Sunday evening, the former Miss Spain said she never felt offended and that the whole situation was taken out of context.

"In my opinion, I never felt attacked, nor that they reacted grossly toward me," Sainz said. "I arrived in the locker room and there were comments and games. One of the other reporters came up to me and apologized for what was happening, but I thought the players were joking around."

Sainz did confirm that during the portion of practice open to the media, Jets head coach Rex Ryan and defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman purposely overthrew passes so they would land near her.

Following practice, several players allegedly bellowed and howled their approval when Sainz entered the locker room, prompting a colleague to ask if she was OK when the behavior being exhibited became a glaring embarrassment.

But although Sainz is attempting to write this off as simply a case of ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ and a board member from the Association of Women in Sports Media has accepted an invitation from the Jets organization for an educational session within the next couple of weeks, disciplinary action must be taken if there is any truthfulness to the allegations against the Jets because their behavior was inexcusable, unacceptable and unprofessional.

In addition, the NFL would set a negative precedent by indirectly approving of conduct that should be long out of the systems of grown men who are, in most cases, husbands, fathers and/or role models.

"Thanks everyone for your support," Sainz wrote on her Twitter page Monday morning. "I already spoke to the NFL, which will decide if there will or will not be consequences. I can say that at the time I didn't want to pay attention to what was happening but the rest of the media heard clearly and in solidarity have denounced what happened, hoping that there is always a respectful climate."

And in the grand scheme of things, the NFL and all the teams under its banner are obligated to provide a respectful climate to the male and female members of the media. In turn, the media has an obligation to be respectful of the privacy and time of the athletes it covers on a daily basis.

This would be the case in a perfect world. But when dealing with imperfect people, in a day and age where self-gratification rules, this ideal has become virtually impossible to attain.

God help us all.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation.

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NFL investigating NY Jets for Sexually Harassing Behavior toward Female Reporter

As evidenced by the HBO reality documentary series, Hard Knocks, the New York Jets walk a fine line between arrogance and confidence when it comes to assessing their chances of representing the AFC in the Super Bowl this season.

But if there is any veracity whatsoever to a stinging report about the team, then there can be absolutely no question that the boldness and brashness with which head coach Rex Ryan and company carry themselves inexcusably transformed grown men into dumb, immature jocks.

According to ESPN.com, the NFL is investigating a complaint made by the Association for Women in Sports Media against the Jets after a television reporter was subjected to footballs being thrown in her direction at practice and, later, players' catcalls inside the locker room.

The complaint was made on the behalf of Inés Sainz, a reporter for Mexico’s TV Azteca, who attended the team’s practice Saturday as a working member of the media. However, it appears that Sainz, a contestant in the 1997 Miss Universe Pageant, became victim to a hostile and unprofessional working environment as she attempted to carry out her duties.

In accounts provided by the New York Post, Jets defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman purposely overthrew footballs to players during a drill for defensive backs so that the passes would land near Sainz on the sideline.

This was followed by defensive lineman Jason Taylor, a husband and father of three children, volunteering to take part in the drills even though he isn't part of Thurman’s unit.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan, a husband and father of two sons himself, also got involved when he had Thurman run a pattern near the sideline and intentionally overthrew him in Sainz's direction.

If this wasn’t enough, Sainz was greeted by catcalls and hooting in the Jets locker room at the conclusion of practice to which defensive tackle Kris Jenkins declared “This is our locker room!” when Sainz was asked if she was OK.

"I die of embarrassment!", Sainz wrote in Spanish on her Twitter account. "I am in the locker room of the Jets waiting for Mark Sanchez while trying not to look to anywhere!"

Statements released by the Association of Women in Sports Media and the New York Jets indicated their clear intention to work closely with the NFL as this matter is investigated further.

Unfortunately, this general sense of entitlement on the part of today’s male professional athlete is a significant contributing factor in players like Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie fathering eight children with six different women and the divorce rate for NFL players averaging between 60 and 80 percent, which is higher than that of the general population.

What’s even more disappointing is that Rex Ryan and Dennis Thurman, the head coach and an assistant coach respectively, initiated and encouraged the aforementioned sophomoric behavior from the players they’re supposed to be leading both on and off the field.

If the allegations are true in this matter, a refreshing gesture on the part of Ryan, Thurman, Kris Jenkins, Jason Taylor and anyone else involved would be to own up to their hormone-induced lapse in judgment and individually apologize to Sainz for their unprofessional conduct.

But it’s more likely that arrogance and pride on the part of Gang Green won’t result in the adult and mature responses demanded because, as is always the case in professional sports, success on the field takes precedence over social responsibility.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a video example of where another Jets representative made it difficult for a female reporter to do her job.

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The Magnificent Seven: The Most Important Players in NY Sports Today

As the fiercest hurricane in twenty years prepares to slam the East Coast with winds in excess of 130 miles per hour, another storm is brewing which fans of the major professional sports leagues will embrace with open arms.

Between September 9 and October 26, the 2010 regular seasons for the National Football League (September 9) and the National Hockey League (October 7), as well as the 2010 postseason for Major League Baseball (October 6), will monopolize the airwaves with their respective opening acts.

However, on October 26, the ‘perfect storm’ ensues when the National Basketball Association lifts the curtain on a new season to give rise to that ecliptic moment on the calendar where sports fans can have their pick of meaningful games to watch, at home or in-person, among the four major sports in North America.

And with the steady approach of this annual confluence, player performance, prospectively and retrospectively, is broken down, dissected, and examined ad infinitum like at no other time during the year; especially in New York where the demands for success can overwhelm those with the strongest of resolves.

In light of this information, there’s no time like the present to enumerate the seven players in New York sports who had and/or will have the most significant impact on their teams as baseball’s postseason looms on the horizon and the NBA, the NFL and the NHL prepare for the dawn of their new seasons. One player per team will be named.

CC Sabathia, New York Yankees

It can never be overstated how valuable Charles Carsten Sabathia has been to a New York Yankees starting rotation that has been beset by inconsistent performances from A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez throughout the season, hampered by shoddy post All-Star break showings from Phil Hughes and decimated by an injury to Andy Pettitte.

Sabathia leads the Yankees in wins (18), ERA (3.14) and strikeouts (160), which place him in first, eighth and ninth in the American League in those respective categories.

And although second baseman Robinson Cano may receive more consideration and support for the American League MVP Award, Sabathia’s candidacy should be taken as seriously as his bid to win the Cy Young Award.

Hitting may rule the day in the Bronx but, ultimately, pitching wins championships. And of the current postseason contenders, no starting pitcher has been nor will be more crucial to their team’s success than CC Sabathia.

Angel Pagan, New York Mets

New York Mets third baseman David Wright leads the team in home runs (21) and RBI’s (86), but Angel Pagan has given the Mets hope for the future.

In an outfield where Carlos Beltran’s best days are behind him and their search for another steady corner outfielder is ongoing, Pagan has quietly emerged as a star in his own right.

Pagan leads the Mets in batting average and, among all National League outfielders, he is first in stolen bases (32), sixth in hits (137) and seventh in batting average (.294), all while playing a Gold Glove-like centerfield for the majority of the season.

So along with first base (Ike Davis), shortstop (Jose Reyes) and third base, Pagan has given the Mets’ front office one less position to concern with reloading this coming off-season and opened up intriguing trade possibilities involving Carlos Beltran.

Amar’e Stoudemire, New York Knicks

Prior to the beginning of the 2005–06 NBA regular season, Amar’e Stoudemire underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee and, as a result, ended up playing only three games for the Phoenix Suns during the campaign.

Surprisingly though, the Suns would go on to post a 54-28 record and reach the Western Conference Finals before gallantly falling to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.

The New York Knicks won’t even come close to achieving similar results if their $100 million man misses any significant time due to injury this coming season and beyond.

In the most talent-laden free agent market in NBA history, Stoudemire became the cornerstone in plans to resurrect one of the marquee franchises in the league as well as the best big man the Knicks have had on their roster since Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing.

Fresh off a season in which he averaged 23.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game and played all 82 games in the regular season for the first time in his career, the 27-year-old Stoudemire appears primed to lead the Knicks into an era where mediocre basketball is a thing of the past.

But if Stoudemire’s shoulders aren’t broad enough to carry that burden, the Knicks will have to look to the NBA Lottery for answers.

Eli Manning, New York Giants

When starting quarterback Eli Manning left the New York Giants’ preseason opener against the New York Jets after suffering a three-inch laceration to his forehead, fans of ‘Big Blue’ held their collective breaths knowing full well they could ill afford to lose the Super Bowl XLII MVP.

However, twelve stitches and one missed preseason game later, Manning was back in the saddle again, accompanied by an enormous sigh of relief.

Over his six-year career, Manning has proven to be extremely durable. After starting in 87 consecutive regular season games through last season, Manning has the third longest active streak among NFL quarterbacks; behind only Brett Favre (285) and Peyton Manning (192).

This distinction bodes well for the Giants, who need Manning to play all sixteen regular season games for the sixth straight season more than ever.

With back-up signal caller Jim Sorgi on injured reserve and third-stringer Rhett Bomar still waiting to take his first regular season snap, New York’s depth at the position is severely compromised; which is why the Giants have started to make inquiries about Arizona Cardinals disgruntled quarterback Matt Leinart in a classic demonstration of desperate times call for desperate measures.

Therefore, New York’s hopes for a successful 2010-11 season ride largely on the health and well-being of one Eli Manning.

Darrelle Revis, New York Jets

Click here to read why the Jets’ Super Bowl talk means absolutely nothing without Darrelle Revis.

John Tavares, New York Islanders

Last season, New York Islanders rookie center John Tavares finished first on the team in points (54), second in goals (24) and third in assists (30). Among rookie skaters, Tavares finished second in points, tied for first in goals and third in assists.

Islanders captain Doug Weight said that “John’s going to be a big piece (of an Islander rebuilding effort)” after Tavares’ first NHL game last year, which is why the 19-year-old was taken with the first overall pick by the Isles in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

In his sophomore season, Tavares will be expected to continue the steady progression toward becoming one of the elite players in the league while elevating the play of his teammates in the process.

Tavares has also been a huge draw at the box office for the Islanders. After winning the Draft Lottery, the team’s ticket sales department reported a "300% increase in phone calls and e-mail inquiries” from 2008-2009 and were "on pace" to renew 90% of its season tickets in 2009.

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Behind a porous defense, Henrik Lundqvist single-handedly carried the New York Rangers to the brink of making the playoffs last season.

Lundqvist faced the third most shots of any goalie in the NHL, but yet finished eighth in the league in goals against average (2.38) and save percentage (.921).

And no one in the Rangers’ locker room took losses harder, as well as take the most responsibility for those defeats, than Lundqvist did.

Entering the 2010-11 season, the Rangers will once again rely heavily on Lundqvist to keep their anemic offense in games and cover for their glaring defensive liabilities.

There it is, folks. Agree? Disagree? Your voice is welcome to be heard.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation featuring one of the most important players in New York sports today.

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Jets’ Darrelle Revis among six to receive ultimate honor in Madden 2011

As the gulf between Darrelle Revis and the New York Jets widens exponentially on a daily basis, the next installment in Electronic Arts’ best-selling football video game franchise, Madden 2011, hit store shelves all across the country Tuesday and, according to the ratings bestowed on the individual players by the game designers, Revis is among the six best players in the National Football League.

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Patrick Willis and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning were the other five players who were given a rating of ‘99’ in Madden 2011, which is the highest rating any one player can receive in the game.

Therefore, in the world of Madden, not only is Revis looked upon as the best player on his team; he is regarded as one of the elite players in the NFL. But unfortunately for Revis and Jets fans, art and life are far from being in perfect alignment.

So, factually and realistically speaking, even though the 25-year-old Revis IS the best player on Gang Green, Jets owner Woody Johnson is fully prepared to stand firm and allow the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award runner-up to sit out the entire 2010-11 season.

This begs the question would Saints owner Tom Benson have taken the same position with Super Bowl XLIV Most Valuable Player Drew Brees or would 49ers owner John York have played this game of chicken with three-time Pro Bowler Patrick Willis or would Colts owner Jim Irsay plant his flag to prove a point to four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning?

As is the disgruntled Jets cornerback, Brees, Willis and Manning, as well as Chris Johnson and Jared Allen, are critical to the success of their respective teams. But it appears only Woody Johnson, a multi-billionaire, isn’t willing to make the sacrifices necessary to keep his best player on the field to improve his team’s chances for success.

And for the moment, it looks like the only way to catch Darrelle Revis on a football field this coming season is in the world of Madden 2011, where he is one of the six highest rated players in the game and the only one of the group not in training camp.

Where is the justice?

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation on Madden 2011.

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Jets’ Super Bowl Talk Means Nothing without Darrelle Revis

“Honestly, we’re here for our Super Bowl. If we don’t get there, nothing else matters.” – Kris Jenkins

“Don’t be timid about saying it. That’s your goal. Write it down. Say it. Read it. Talk about it. It’s fine. It’s not false bravado. It’s real and that’s what we want. I think we have the players to do it.” – Mark Sanchez

“Anything short of the obvious is a disappointment. At the end of the day, to beat the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship or to beat the Saints or Vikings, we have to put it all together. It’s not enough just to have the manpower on paper.” – Braylon Edwards

“This is definitely different than any other year I’ve been in. It’s a true sense of Super Bowl or bust. This team is built for that. It’s been talked about over and over again. Guys understand that.” – Brandon Moore

These aren’t the words of a team that thinks they have a chance to make it to the Super Bowl, just like any of the other 31 NFL organizations. These are the assertions of a football club that is supremely confident it will be representing the AFC at Cowboys Stadium come February 6, 2011.

However, it can be said with no equivocation that Super Bowl talk for any team is simply empty rhetoric if they are without the services of their best player; and for the New York Jets that individual is cornerback Darrelle Revis.

As reported here, in a dramatic turn of events, the crown jewel of Gang Green’s top ranked defense has decided to hold out of training camp due to a contract dispute. Revis failed to attend the team's conditioning test on Sunday morning and officially became a holdout when he missed the team's mandatory meeting Sunday evening in Cortland.

By electing to hold out until his contract is restructured, Revis will be fined $16,523 a day by the Jets and has waived approximately $20 million in guaranteed salary for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

The dispute stems from the fact that Revis is scheduled to make $1 million in the fourth year of his six-year rookie deal, making him one of the lowest-paid defensive backs on the Jets. Revis, the 2009 AFC Defensive Player of the Year, is looking to become the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, a distinction that belongs to Oakland Raiders defensive stand-out Nnamdi Asomugha, who will be making $15 million this season after signing a $45 million contract extension last year.

Make no mistake about it; this is a game of chicken that the New York Jets front office is destined to lose as Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones found out the hard way in the early 1990’s.

Prior to the 1993 season, after rushing for 1,713 yards, scoring 19 touchdowns and leading Dallas to their first Super Bowl victory in fifteen years, Emmitt Smith held out for over two months and the Cowboys started the season 0-2 before a proud Jerry Jones finally opened his wallet to make Smith the highest-paid running back in NFL history at the time. Smith responded by keying another victorious run to the Super Bowl for Dallas while winning the Associated Press Most Valuable Player Award in the process.

Everything the Cowboys did on offense in the 1990’s was triggered by their ability to effectively run the football with Emmitt Smith, just as everything the Jets do on defense is predicated on Darrelle Revis’ uncanny knack to shut down the opposing player’s best receiving threat; and no one in the league does it better.

When asked his thoughts on Revis finishing second to Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson for the 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, Jets head coach Rex Ryan said, "This, in my opinion, was the best year a corner has ever had, the most impact a corner has ever had in the National Football League. That's my opinion. Apparently, that wasn't how everybody felt.”

Ryan also went on to say, "A number that I think would be interesting would be eight, and no, that’s not the amount of touchdown passes that Green Bay gave up against Arizona. That is the number of touchdown passes we gave up all season, and the biggest reason for that is Darrelle Revis."

Now Ryan may have given Revis a more favorable position at the negotiating table with those glowing comments, but he was merely being truthful about the main reason why Gang Green finished with the NFL’s top ranked passing defense last season. And in only his fourth season in the league, as scary as it sounds, Revis, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, can only get better.

As the fifth most valuable team in the NFL and with the highly anticipated move into a new stadium, there is absolutely no reason why the Jets should continue playing hard ball with the one of the cornerstones of their franchise.

Therefore, it’s time for the Jets to ante up before Revis’ holdout becomes a public relations nightmare and the team begins writing checks that their bodies won’t be able to cash.

Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation featuring Darrelle Revis.

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